Michael's Word BLOG

A Blogsite for Christian News, Features,Interview and Review articles on The Church Around the World. I seek to be MIKE: Meaningful, Informative, Kind, Entertaining.

Friday, May 27, 2011

Dylan at the Foot of the Cross

Longtime disciple? Converted soldier? Secular prophet? The questions linger as the troubadour turns 70.

By Michael J. Gilmour for Christianity Today

CT Editor's note: The great American singer/songwriter/poet Bob Dylan turns 70 today. In observance of that occasion, here's an excerpt from the new book, The Gospel According to Bob Dylan: The Old, Old Story for Modern Times (Westminster John Knox), by Michael J. Gilmour. Learn more about the book and Gilmour at the end of this excerpt.

"Who is this character anyway?"—Sam Shepard (referring to Bob Dylan)
"Who is this man?"—Matt. 8:27; Mark 4:41; Luke 8:25 (referring to Jesus)
"Who do people say that I am? … Who do you say that I am?"—Jesus (Mark 8:27, 29)

I taped a photocopied picture of Bob Dylan to my office door during the time I spent thinking about and writing this book. It is my favorite picture of the singer, taken likely in the fall of 1975. He is standing in a cemetery by a large crucifix, in the Catholic grotto in Lowell, Massachusetts. Jack Kerouac's grave is in this cemetery, so the motley crew touring with Dylan at the time stopped by the Beat writer's hometown to pay their respects. There are other photographs of this visit to the Lowell cemetery showing Dylan and poet Allen Ginsberg sitting cross-legged at Kerouac's grave.

The picture on my office door shows Dylan standing in front of the tall statue, his feathered hat just inches below Christ's nailed feet. He carries a large tree branch as a walking stick while the camera looks up into his face, capturing both the singer's stoic expression and the Messiah's agony all at once. The picture has symbolic potential that illustrates challenges facing those interested in Bob Dylan's relationship to religion.

For one thing, though Christ is in the picture, Dylan is the focal point. Christ on the cross looks off into the distant heavens, remote and inaccessible. Dylan, on the other hand, stares penetratingly into the eyes of anyone looking at the photograph. It is actually difficult to focus on the crucified figure, which is off center. We view Christ at a slight angle. He appears high in the frame of the picture, and we cannot make eye contact with him. Dylan's shadowed eyes, on the other hand, stare back at us from dead center of the picture. He has an authoritative, confident stance—one thumb coolly placed in a pocket, jacket thrown over his shoulder like a cape. The other hand grasps his walking stick firmly. He could be Moses leading his people, poised to strike against the rock (see Exod. 17:5-6).

Viewed this way, the picture brings to mind John Lennon's 1966 observation that the Beatles are "more popular than Jesus now." Lennon's words always struck me as a reasonable observation rather than irreverence, despite the controversy that ensued. He calculated the shock value, no doubt, but it remains true that more kids flocked to Beatles concerts and record shops at the time than to churches. The picture on my door suggests something similar. It is hard to see religion—the figure on the cross in this case—with Dylan's imposing gaze commanding an audience. He is in the way, blocking a clear view of the icon behind him. The Dylan mystique is hard to ignore; moreover, many claim to find just as much wisdom in his canon of work as in the Sermon on the Mount.

Source: Christianity Today. To read more, go to:http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/music/commentaries/2011/dylanfoot.html

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Number of Cruise Ships Arriving in Israel has Increased Significantly










68,000 Cruise Visitors Arrived in Israel from January through April 2011


(Photo: Ashdod Port on the Mediterranean. Courtesy: Israel Ministry of Tourism)


New York, NY – May 27, 2011: In June 2011, 37 passenger and cruise ships are expected to anchor in Ashdod and Haifa, with an estimated 50,000 tourists and crew. The number of cruise ships arriving in Israel has significantly increased in recent years and this trend is expected to continue.


“We are excited to welcome so many cruise visitors to Israel,” said Haim Gutin, Israel Tourism Commissioner, North and South America. “We know that once they visit Israel – they will never be the same.”


The ships dock in Ashdod, Haifa, and Eilat for an average of three days. The passengers and crew members spend, on average, $150 a day. In 2010, 169,200 cruise visitors arrived in Israel – 2.5 times more than in 2009. 68,000 cruise visitors have arrived in Israel from January through April 2011, which is 37% more than the same period last year.


For more information about travel to Israel, please visit http://www.evangelicalisraelexperience.com./

About the Israel Ministry of Tourism:

With its main headquarters for North America in New York, the Israel Ministry of Tourism leads the State of Israel’s efforts at maintaining a strong tourism industry. The Ministry of Tourism promotes tourism to Israel via its Israel Government Tourist Offices in Europe, Asia, and the Americas.


(Source: Israel Ministry of Tourism)

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Charles Spurgeon: Morning and Evening Devotions









May 27
Evening ...
References:-- 2 Samuel 9:8: "What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?"


If Mephibosheth was thus humbled by David's kindness, what shall we be in the presence of our gracious Lord?

The more grace we have, the less we shall think of ourselves, for grace, like light, reveals our impurity. Eminent saints have scarcely known to what to compare themselves, their sense of unworthiness has been so clear and keen.

"I am," says holy Rutherford, "a dry and withered branch, a piece of dead carcass, dry bones, and not able to step over a straw." In another place he writes, "Except as to open outbreakings, I want nothing of what Judas and Cain had."

The meanest objects in nature appear to the humbled mind to have a preference above itself, because they have never contracted sin: a dog may be greedy, fierce, or filthy, but it has no conscience to violate, no Holy Spirit to resist. A dog may be a worthless animal, and yet by a little kindness it is soon won to love its master, and is faithful unto death; but we forget the goodness of the Lord, and follow not at His call.

The term "dead dog" is the most expressive of all terms of contempt, but it is none too strong to express the self-abhorrence of instructed believers. They do not affect mock modesty, they mean what they say, they have weighed themselves in the balances of the sanctuary, and found out the vanity of their nature.

At best, we are but clay, animated dust, mere walking hillocks; but viewed as sinners, we are monsters indeed. Let it be published in heaven as a wonder, that the Lord Jesus should set His heart's love upon such as we are.

Dust and ashes though we be, we must and will "magnify the exceeding greatness of His grace." Could not His heart find rest in heaven? Must He needs come to these tents of Kedar for a spouse, and choose a bride upon whom the sun had looked? O heavens and earth, break forth into a song, and give all glory to our sweet Lord Jesus.

KUTLESS AND WILL GRAHAM TO HEADLINE FAITH, FAMILY AND FREEDOM AT THE zMAX DRAGWAY JUNE 25TH



Free Celebration of Music Presented by 106.9 The Light and New Life 91.9

CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 27, 2011 – The sixth annual Faith, Family and Freedom celebration will be held at zMAX Dragway at Charlotte Motor Speedway on June 25, 2011, and will feature musical performances by Kutless, Britt Nicole, Echoing Angels and Caleb. Will Graham, grandson of evangelist Billy Graham, will serve as the event’s guest speaker.

The concert begins at 6 p.m. and will be followed by a fireworks display sponsored by Scott McCorkle’s Liberty Buick GMC-Trucks in Matthews. The Pre-Party Jam festivities kick-off at 4 p.m. and include Freestyle Motocross by Todd Bennick, and music by Abandon, Finding Flavor, Heather Williams, Know Hope Collective and The Advice.


Participants are encouraged to bring a canned good or nonperishable food item, which will be collected to assist families in crisis through Cooperative Christian Ministry - a lead organization in addressing the needs of individuals and families in the areas of food, shelter, or finances in Cabarrus and Southern Rowan Counties. While meeting the immediate needs of families, Cooperative Christian Ministry looks longer term by offering access to resources that will empower them to move beyond crisis.


zMAX Dragway is located at 5555 Concord Parkway South in Concord, N.C. Admittance to Faith, Family and Freedom is free, but tickets are required to enter. Priority seating is available for $10. Free and priority tickets are available online at www.ticketmaster.com or by phone at 800-455-FANS (3267). Parking at zMAX Dragway is $5 per car.


Faith, Family and Freedom is a family-friendly event hosted by 106.9 The Light and New Life 91.9 and presented by the Charlotte Dentistry of Armstrong & Eshelman. Additional sponsors include the Billy Graham Library and Wilburn Auto Body.


About 106.9 the Light
Founded by Billy and Ruth Graham in 1962, 106.9 The Light’s mission is to lead as many people as possible into a personal and dynamic relationship with Jesus Christ. The station broadcasts from its studios in Asheville, N.C., to portions of seven states and around the world at www.1069thelight.org. 106.9 The Light seeks to serve its listeners with the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, through encouraging music and relevant Bible teaching, as well as support of worthwhile efforts in the surrounding area and abroad. 106.9 the Light has the 12th largest FM coverage area in the nation, reaching Charlotte, N.C., Greenville-Spartanburg, S.C., Johnson City-Bristol, Tenn., and Asheville, N.C.

About New Life 91.9
New Life 91.9 is a listener-supported ministry of Columbia International University. The station broadcasts to the great Charlotte market and is online at www.newlife919.com. New Life 91.9 exists to influence as many people as possible with the life-changing reality of Jesus Christ.


About Will Graham
William Franklin Graham IV (Will) is the third generation of Grahams to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ under the banner of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA). Will is the grandson of Billy Graham and the oldest son of Franklin Graham. Since beginning his evangelistic ministry with youth-oriented, one-day events in Canada, Will has spoken to audiences across North America, Australia, India and other parts of Asia and South America. Will’s first crusade-style event – called Celebrations – took place in 2006 in Leduc, Canada. His first Celebration on U.S. soil came later that year in Gastonia, N.C. Since then, he has also held multi-day evangelistic outreaches in several states and provinces. Will also serves as assistant director of the Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove in Asheville, N.C. He graduated from Liberty University in 1997 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Religion and in 2001 graduated from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity.


Artist Resources
Freestyle Motocross by Todd Bennick – www.toddbennick.com
Kutless – www.kutless.com
Britt Nicole – www.brittnicole.com
Echoing Angels – www.echoingangels.com/
Caleb – www.calebmusic.com/
Abandon – www.abandonrock.com
Finding Favour – www.findingfavourmusic.com
Heather Williams – www.heatherwilliamsmusic.com
Know Hope Collective – www.knowhopecollective.com
The Advice – www.theadviceband.com

Oprah's Jesus Comments Spark New Faith Debate

Thursday, May 26, 2011

IN TOUCH MINISTRIES RELEASES NEW APP FOR APPLE DEVICES

ATLANTA, GA. — May 25, 2011 — International Christian broadcast organization, In Touch Ministries, has released a free app featuring Christ-centered teaching from Dr. Charles Stanley, Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Atlanta.

Now iPhone and iPad users can access many of Dr. Stanley’s television and radio broadcasts from their electronic devices in an easy to use format. Content includes uplifting articles from the award-winning In Touch magazine, text and audio versions of the Early Light daily devotional, as well as a collection of encouraging verses from Scripture in the "God’s Promises" section.

The new app also allows users to bookmark their favorite content and share sermons, articles, and devotions with their friends through e-mail, Facebook®, Twitter™, and other popular social networks.
***

ABOUT IN TOUCH MINISTRIES
In Touch Ministries is the global multi-media broadcast teaching ministry of Dr. Charles Stanley, Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Atlanta. Its mission is to lead people worldwide into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and to strengthen the local church. "In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley" is broadcast around the world on TV and radio in more than 50 languages. In Touch Ministries also publishes a free, award-winning monthly devotional magazine.

ABOUT CHARLES STANLEY
Dr. Charles Stanley is the Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Atlanta and a New York Times best-selling author who has written more than 35 books, including How to Reach Your Full Potential for God, Finding Peace, How to Listen to God, Landmines in the Path of the Believer, and Surviving in an Angry World.

For more information, visit www.intouch.org.

400-Year-Old Bible More Popular Online than Ever Before

LONGVIEW, WA (May 26, 2011) from Christian Newswire -- Referred to as the best-selling book of all time, the King James Bible, after 400 years, maintains a strong following of readers, with online readership on the rise.

This month, as people around the world celebrated the 400-year anniversary of the King James Bible, through conferences and special media coverage, more people than ever before are searching the web for the King James Bible.

According to Google Insights, a service that compares search volume patterns, the phrase "King James Bible" was searched 9 percent more this year than the previous seven-year average. That phrase was searched an average of 246,000 times across Google's websites, according to Google's Keyword Tool. Other keyword phrases including either "King James Bible" or "King James Version" were searched more than 2 million times per month. Resulting from the 400th-anniversary media coverage, the website King James Bible Online ( www.kingjamesbibleonline.org) has shown a rise in web traffic in recent weeks.

The website, which allows visitors to read the Bible online, recently surpassed 3 million visits since its founding in November 2007.

"Traffic has quadrupled every year since its beginning and we've never done any paid advertising," said Trent Mueller, the website's creator. "The King James Bible has a very dedicated, loyal, and passionate following."

One of the King James Bible Online website users is Ms. Ufon Udofia, social development worker from Festac Town, Nigeria, who said, "I must confess I love the King James Bible with a fierce passion. It is my only authentic version of the Bible. More grease to your elbows."

Another reader expressed his pride in the translation through his Facebook posting: "[It is] the most sold, read, bought, published, given away, believed, translated, quoted, and accurate book the world has ever experienced." said R. Mitchell.

The King James Bible was the first English Bible printed in the United States, with more than 1 billion copies published worldwide. It is noted as the most widely printed and distributed work in history according to the bill titled "Recognizing the 400th anniversary of the publication of the King James Version of the Bible," introduced April 12 in the U.S. House of Representatives. For more information, visit www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/kjv-news

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Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Artists ignore "boycott Israel" campaigns

Dylan, Simon, to visit Israel

Jewish American rock icon Bob Dylan is expected to enter the stage at Tel Aviv's Ramat Gan Stadium on June the 20th, a month before 70 year old vocalist Paul Simon will arrive in Israel to perform a concert and promote his latest album. This is the third time Simon will perform in Israel, the first time being in 1978 and the second in 1983 together with Art Garfunkel.

(Source: ICEJ -- International Christian Embassy Jerusalem)

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Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Worship God, Not Work: Faith in the Workplace






Each weekday morning, my six-year-old son gets himself ready for school in about thirty minutes—clothes on, bed made, breakfast eaten, and teeth brushed. He's not in a rush to get to school, but to play with his Legos. He loves to make things.

This shouldn't surprise me. He is made in the image of a God who makes things.Paul taught this same truth in Athens: "God made the world and everything in it. He is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands" (Acts 17:24).

But Scriptures are clear that people make things too. This is part of why we work. In Acts 9, the people of Joppa mourn the death of Tabitha. When Peter visits them, they hold up clothing Tabitha had made as evidence that she was good.

The people didn't love Tabitha because of her work. They loved her work because it was a gift to the world, like everything Tabitha did.God made Tabitha to be a person who loves to make clothes.

God made my son to be a person who loves to make things with Legos.God made you. Whatever you make in your work is a gift back to the world and to God. Remember that.

Sincerely,

Marcus Goodyear

Senior Editor, TheHighCalling.org

Prolific Worship Leader Matt Redman Presents 10,000 Reasons July 12



Nashville, TN (May 24, 2011) -- Prolific worship leader and GRAMMY ® nominated singer/songwriter Matt Redman has been giving life to worship songs for over fifteen years.

Penning church favorites such as “Blessed Be Your Name,” “Heart of Worship” and “You Never Let Go” to the more recent "Our God," and “You Alone Can Rescue” he has led worship for thousands at Passion conferences and events held around the globe. This summer Redman will continue unleashing inventive anthems for the church on his eighth album sixstepsrecords release 10,000 Reasons available July 12.

Though Redman moved back to the United Kingdom in August 2010, he returned to Atlanta earlier this year to record 10,000 Reasons with over 1,000 worship leaders from across the country during LIFT: A Worship Leader Collective, put on by Passion City Church and sixstepsrecords.

The live recording makes this album what it is: “There’s something that happens in the worshipping, singing church that you don’t find anywhere else on the face of the earth … I hope people end up hearing that on the album; it hopefully gives some life to the songs,” says Redman.

Redman co-wrote with many friends on this album including Jonas Myrin, Jason Ingram, Chris Tomlin, Matt Maher, Tim Wanstall, and Jesse Reeves. Many of the songs were born in Brighton, England, a town where Redman and his family are serving as active parts of a congregation reaching out to those in the city.

Redman’s crossover experience with the American and British church has affected his songwriting, particularly now that he attends this Brighton church plant: “With a new church, you’re very mindful of the un-churched coming in,” explains the father of five. “You have to find ways to not water down your faith but to be lyrically as accessible as possible. That’s an endless challenge. It makes me always want to keep the cross front and center.”

Not all of the eleven songs on 10,000 Reasons were inspired in the Redmans’ new Brighton locale. “Never Once,” the first single from the new album, began in the Redmans’ Atlanta home, where he and his family lived for two years helping plant Passion City Church with friends Chris Tomlin and Louie and Shelley Giglio.

Returning to Atlanta to see to their house still on the market, Redman found himself standing in his family’s now empty kitchen with guitar in hand. He was alone with no sound of children around, no furniture or wall-hangings, only the echo of guitar strings. Redman had time to think: “I looked over twenty plus years of being a Christian—so much battle and so much blessing. I just had a sense of the utter faithfulness of God.”

With as impressive a track record as one worship leader can have, writing songs that have earned numerous awards, publishing books, including his upcoming book Mirror Ball in stores July 1, and belonging to one of the most impacting worship movements this century, Redman has managed to keep himself out of it and place Christ in the center of it.

After years of experience, the worship leader concluded, “You can have clever chord progressions. You can work hard at getting some sort of nice sounding lyrics, but at the end, I just want a song that connects people with God.”

For more information on Matt Redman, please visit http://e2ma.net/go/7076330945/208569494/223143340/1405366/goto:http://www.mattredman.com/.

About Matt Redman: Matt Redman’s songwriting is synonymous with integrity and continues to impact churches around the world. Leading a generation of worshipers, his songs have been recorded by Chris Tomlin, Michael W. Smith, David Crowder*Band, Rebecca St. James, Tree 63, Kutless and Passion among others. A key songwriter for today’s church, an active worship leader for Passion conferences around the world, Redman has a history of success having garnered eight Gospel Music Association Dove Awards and recently received a GRAMMY ® nod for “Best Gospel Song” for “Our God” featured on Passion: Awakening. Additionally, Redman has 21 songs in the CCLI Top 500, with 5 populating the Top 50. Redman's eighth album, 10,000 Reasons, releases July 12 on sixstepsrecords.

New Family Drama "Field of Vision" to Air on NBC June 11

“Field of Vision” is a captivating made-for-TV movie family drama that blends mystery, intrigue and action with a memorable life lesson about the challenges and rewards of doing the right thing.

Through mysterious footage captured on an old video camera, star quarterback Tyler McFarland learns that some of his teammates have been bullying the new transfer student, Cory Walker. Aware that standing up for Cory might get his friends kicked off the team and cost the school the state championship, Tyler must choose between winning and doing what is right.

This is the 6th installment from Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG) and Walmart (NYSE: WMT)in their Family Movie Night initiative. The latest made-for-TV family movie, “Field of Vision,” starring Faith Ford, premieres on June 11th at 8/7 on NBC.

Tune in and keep these wholesome programs rolling out on Primetime TV!!

Link to Official “Field of Vision” movie trailer: FIELD OF VISION

Key values at Play in “Field of Vision:”

· Courage

Doing what you know to be right even when it is difficult or unpopular to do so

· Discernment

Exercising good judgment and making right decisions

· Accountability

Taking responsibility for your actions by being answerable to others

· Looking Out For Others

Actively and intentionally working to include others and ensure their well-being

· Story’s Universal Truth

It takes courage to do the right thing

Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG) and Walmart (NYSE: WMT) recently celebrated the one-year anniversary of their Family Movie Night initiative with the announcement that they will continue to deliver high-quality family entertainment with the addition of five more movies in 2011.

The P&G/Walmart Family Movie Night has already been seen by nearly 22 million viewers while nearly a half million of the respective DVDs have been sold, providing a “stay at home” option for families to spend quality time together. For more information visit FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT